Inmate attacks clinician at California State Prison

Folsom, California - Officials at California State Prison-Sacramento (SAC) are investigating an assault by an inmate that sent one employee to the hospital.

At 9:15 a.m. Thursday, April 14, inmate Joshua Vick, 34, ran from the track on the main exercise yard toward the Treatment Center and attacked a psychiatric clinician, punching her numerous times in the face. The clinician fell backward, striking her head against the wall as she fell to the ground. Vick continued the violent attack, punching the clinician in her face and head.

Staff who responded to the attack ordered Vick to stop his actions. When he saw staff approaching, Vick backed away and lay down on the ground. The clinician was evaluated by SAC medical staff and transported to an outside hospital for treatment of abrasions to her shoulder, head and neck; cuts on her mouth; tooth pain; swelling to her eye and head; and a slash to her eye that required five sutures. She was treated and released the same day, and is recovering at home.

Vick was treated by prison medical staff for abrasions to both hands and a swollen area on his forehead.

Vick was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on June 14, 2011, from Los Angeles County to serve life without the possibility of parole for two counts of first-degree murder, second-degree robbery, attempted second-degree robbery and making criminal threats.

CSP-SAC, opened in 1986, is a maximum-security prison that houses nearly 2,400 general population inmates and employs about 1,700 people. The institution houses inmates serving long sentences and those who have proven to be management problems at other institutions. CSP-SAC also houses inmates requiring specialized mental health treatment.